This sauce is perfectly balanced with just the right amount of tomato, sausage and cream. And it’s lovely with a thick pasta like rigatoni, with a splash of Parmesan cheese over the top. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Single Meal

1 - lb(s) ground Italian sausage

1 - red bell pepper(s)

1 - Tbsp minced onion

1 - tsp garlic powder

1 - 15 oz. can(s) diced tomatoes

1 - 6 oz. can(s) tomato paste

12 - oz. rigatoni pasta**

1/4 - cup(s) heavy cream**

Garnish: - grated Parmesan cheese**

Side: - salad**

1 - gallon-size freezer baggie(s)

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Cooking Directions for Single Meal

Cook the rigatoni pasta, as directed.

Seed and chop the red bell pepper.

In a large skillet, brown the ground Italian sausage (casing removed) with the chopped red bell pepper, minced onion and garlic powder. Once browned, drain and then mix in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste until thick meaty-tomato sauce forms, then stir in the heavy cream. Let simmer for a few minutes to allow flavors to mingle.

Toss the cooked pasta with the meat sauce and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.

Prepare the salad.

Serve Rigatoni with Sausage with side salad.

Freezeasy Meal Prep Directions

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To each gallon-size plastic freezer baggie, add the following ingredients:

Half of the browned sausage

Half of the chopped bell peppers

Half of the diced tomatoes

Half of the tomato paste

Do not add the pasta or cream to the freezer meal bag

Remove as much air as possible and seal. Add label to baggie and freeze.

Freeze & Thaw Instructions

Put bag in the freezer and freeze up to 6 months in fridge freezer or 12 months in a deep freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or a warm shallow dish of water for about 20 minutes, before transferring to the skillet to reheat the meat sauce. Swirl in cream once the sauce is bubbling, and then toss with cooked pasta.

Dairy-Free Modifications

Unfortunately, there is not a great dairy-free option for this meal.

Gluten-Free Modifications

Unfortunately, there is not a great gluten-free option for this meal.

Printable Label Recipe Title

Rigatoni with Sausage

Printable Label Instructions

Thaw and transfer to skillet to reheat, then swirl in the cream once the sauce is bubbling. Toss with cooked pasta and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve with side salad.